Pupil block glaucoma after neodymium:YAG capsulotomy in a patient with a partially subluxated posterior chamber intraocular lens.

A 73-year-old-woman presented following neodymium:YAG capsulotomy for posterior capsular opacification with acute glaucoma. Previous cataract surgery had left her with a subluxated lens. Cornea edema obscured detail of the anterior chamber, but the edge of the lens could be seen clearly within the pupillary space. This produced a diagnostic dilemma because no obvious cause for pupil block could be seen. She failed to respond to medical therapy and had a laser iridotomy, following which her symptoms resolved. We believe this case demonstrates the importance of a laser iridotomy to exclude pupil block glaucoma when adequate visualization of the pupillary space is obscured.